Oscillating display device



March 6, 1951 F. A. QUICK OSCILLATING DISPLAY DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Oct. 20, 1944 INVENTOR.

0502mm A Q 1 March 6, 1951 F. A. QUICK 2,544,105

OSCILLATING DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Oct. 20, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z0 /5 5452 J3 W 56 V L INVENTOR. q; HEM/alum. (QM K Patented Mar. 6, 1951OSCILLATIN G DISPLAY DEVICE Frederick A. Quick, Bellerose, N. Y.,assignor to Gregory Motors, Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of NewYork Application October 20, 1944, Serial No. 559,575

1 Claim.

This invention relates generally to display devices, more particularlyto the type adapted to attract attention by means of a moving object.

This type of device is used to make displays in stores and store windowsin which a casing is designed to house removable placards, said casinghaving a motor adapted to give a reciprocal movement to an objectassociated with the placard.

It has heretofore been generally customary to make display devices ofthe type that are used for display purposes wherein a movable object isutilized to catch the eye of a substantially permanent fixture. Noprovision was made for interchanging the placard containing the movableobject so that the position of the movable object could be changed onthe new placard in accordance with the particular background used. Inother words, if it became desirable to replace a placard having a movingobject in the lower left corner of the sign designed to harmonize withthe particular background of that placard to a placard having a movableobject on the upper left corner it would be necessary to adjust theposition of the motor to accommodate the angular movement charge of thearm attached to the movable object in relation to the motor arm.

This involved obvious disadvantages as the arm of the motor could notalways be easily adjusted to accommodate the angle of the arm of themovable object without afiecting the efilciency of operation of themotor as the motors used in connection with these display devicesoperate most efficiently in a single position.

It is therefore among the objects of the present invention to providevariously positioned movable objects on a placard without the necessityof adjusting the motor mounting or its arm to properly coact with thearm attached to the movable objects.

Another object lies in the provision of a display device which canutilize a plurality of placards having movable objects without thenecessity of making mechanical adjustments in associating the placardwith the display device.

Another specific object of the invention lies in the provision of an armfor movable display objects which is easily mounted on the placard withthe least number of parts.

Another object of the device lies in the provision of a display devicein which a plurality of openings make for easy removal and insertion ofthe placards without the necessity of materially dismantling the devicefor removal of placards 2 or assembling the device for insertion of newplacards.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a device whichis attractive and while it is portable has a permanent appearance.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages will more fullyappear in the pro gross of this disclosure and be pointed out in theappended claim.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,andin which like numerals designate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views: 7

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a preferred embodiment of theinvention substantially as same would appear when on display, parts ofthe placards being broken away to show the manner in which the placardis held in place.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view of Figure1 with a portion of the door omitted.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view partly in section of the deviceshown in Figure 1 with the door in closed position.

Figure 4 is a rear elevational view on a reduced scale of the placardshown in Figure 1 associated with the display device illustrating thearm associated with the movable object.

Figure 5 is a front elevational view on a reduced scale of the placardportion of the display device illustrating the second embodiment of theinvention.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the movable object actuating means andshowin a fragment of the movable object.

Turning now to the first embodiment of the invention as illustrated inFigures 1 to 4 and 6, the display device is generally indicated byreference character It and comprises broadly a casing l I, a, placard I2 including a movable object l3 and a motor M.

The casing ll may be made in any size or shape desirable to accommodatethe selected size or shape of the placard to be associated therewith butthe preferred shape is generally rectangular. The casing II ispreferably constructed of wood and comprises a bottom panel [5, sidepanels [6 and IT, a top panel I8 and a rear wall l9. The side panels I6and I! are joined to the bottom l5 and the top panel It by dovetailjoints (not shown) along each of the edges 20, 2|, 22 and 23.

Joined to the longitudinal edges 26, 2'! and 28 of side panels l6 and I1and bottom l5 are molding pieces 29, 30 and 31, the inner surfaces 32 ofmolding 29, 34 of molding 3| and the inner surface of molding 39 (notshown) being attached to the outer surfaces 35, 36 and other surfaces(not shown) of the edges 26, 21 and 28 in any suitable manner, forexample, by driving nails through the abutting edges. The molding thusprovides a front facing or framework for the casing and finishes off theedges 26, 21 and 28.

The moldings 29, 39 and 3| are provided with longitudinal grooves orchannels 38, 39 and 39' to permit the insertion of the edges 49, 4| and42 of placard I2 therein. To enable the insertion and removal of theplacard and at the same time to retain the picture frame appearance, thetop panel I8 is cut longitudinally along the edge 44,

transversely along the edges 45 and 46 and then' laterally along theedges 41 and 49. The auxiliary panel 49 thus formed is hingedlyconnected to the main panel I8 by hinges 59 and The inner edge 52 of amolding piece 53 is then attached to the outer edge 54 of the auxiliarypanel. This molding corresponds to the molding piece 39 except for thefact that it is not channeled. In lieu thereof a recess 55 is providedto frictionally engage the outer edge 56 of the placard I2. The openingthus formed is retained in alignment in closed position in relation tothe adjoining molding by the seating of the edges 51 and 58 of molding53 on the edges 59 and 69 of molding 29 and 3|, outer edges 6| and 62 oftop panel I8 and auxiliary panel 49 abutting against each other.

In order to provide access to the interior of the casing through therear thereof the rear wall I9 is provided with a swinging door 63 whichis attached to the side panel I1 by means of hinges 64 and another hinge(not shown) and is prevented from swinging inwardly by means of stops 66and 61 which are preferably in the form of elongated wood strips. Accessthrough the rear of the casing is desirable in order to associate themovable object mechanism of the placard with the motor and to remove theplacard from the casing.

The casing is also provided with a front door 68 which is swingablyconnected to the outer edge 69 of the molding 3| thereof by means ofhinges 19 and 1|. This door also serves as a holder for a placard 12which is part of the general display scheme to which specific attentionis to be directed, it-being appropriately lettered to convey the desiredadvertisement. This door consists generally of moldings 19, 14, and 16which are joined to a rear panel 11 in any well known method as by nailsor screws. Each of the moldings 14, 15 and 19 are provided withalongitudinal channel or groove 18 whereas'molding 13 is provided with aslot 19. The slot 19 serves as an opening through which the placard 12may be inserted'to be engaged by the grooves 18 of the remaining threemoldings. It is then quite obvious that a frame likeappearance is givento the placard 12. An arcuate opening 89 is providedin the rear panel 11so that the operator's fingers may be inserted therein to effectuate theeasy removal of the placard 12 from the door 69.

The placard I2 may have thereon a background with which is harmonized amovable object I3. The movable object mechanism comprises a threadedsleeve 82 which is inserted into an opening (not shown) in the placardat any predetermined place desired in order to position the movableobject in relation to the background of the placard scenery. A nut 94engages the sleeve 82 which penetrates the opening in the placard andregisters. against the outer face 85 sleeve which penetrates the rearface 86 of the placard I2 is placed a washer 81 which abuts against therear face and is held in place by means of a nut 88.

Through sleeve 82 is inserted a wire 89 which is bent at a 90 angle atthe point 99 slightly beyond the nut 84. The remaining portion 9| and 92of the wire is bent at approximately a 180 angle at the point 93 and atapproximately a 45 angle at the point 94. Laminated card boards and 96are attached to the rear surface of the movable object by staples or anyother well known method. Board 95 is provided with a longitudinalopening '91 (only partially shown) extending substantially the entirelength and conforming generally to the shape of the wire portions 9| and92 into which they are designed to be fitted and register with the edgesof the opening thus formed. The board 96 is designed to cover theopening 91 so that the wire can not be removed except through theopening 91. It can thus be seen that the movable object will react withthe movement of the wire portions 9| and 92.

The opposite end of the wire 89 is then bent on an angle of 90 at thepoint 98 which is a slight distance beyond the edge of the sleeve 82 andis bent in a longitudinal direction parallel to the placard. An arm 99is thus formed which is again bent on a 90 angle at the point I99 in alateral direction from the arm 99 to form arm I9 I. The wire is againbent at right angles at the point I92. The remaining portion of the wireis bent on an angle of approximately at the point I93 to form parallelarms I94 and I95 leaving an open space between the outer edge I 96 ofthe wire and the arm I94 extending to the bend I93. It is within theconfines Of this space that the arm I91 of the motor I4 imparts areciprocal motion by moving substantially along the vertical axisthereof from a central point as best shown in Figure 3 in relation tothe arm I91 to the arms I94 and I95. The inner edge I98 of the bentportion I93 serves as a stop for the arm I91 of the motor. The movementof the arm I91 within the confines of the arms I94 and I95 causes themovable object to oscillate.

The motor found to be best utilized for this display device is securedto a transverse supporting board I99 and comprises generally a base ||9,a solenoid III, a frame II2, an axle II3, including an armature carrierII5, arms I I6, N1, I I8 and I I9 and an armature I29.

Turning now to the second embodiment of the invention illustrated inFigure 5 for the purpose of avoiding needless repetition, partscorresponding to those of the first embodiment are given the samereference characters with the addition of the prefix 2. The secondembodiment differs from the first embodiment in the position of themovable object 2 I3 and the shape and position of the arms controllingthe movable object.

In this embodiment it is desired to have the movable object positionedon the upper left corner of the placard 2|2 and yet to utilize the motorshown in connection with embodiment one without adjustment thereof sothat the arm I91 of the motor engages the movable object arm at the samecentral point as in the first embodiment. The arm 299 is longer than thecorresponding arm 99 and the wire in addition is bent at the point 22|so that the opening wherein the motor arm imparts a reciprocal motion isentered through the bottom. In this manner the of said placard. On theopposite end of the 7 same reaction of the movable objectis obtainedwithout aifecting the efliciency of the motor and reacts on the samecentral point of the movable object arm.

Thus it may be seen that the display device can utilize a variety ofplacards to attract attention to the advertisement desired withoutmaterially altering the motive power and with little if any adjustmentof the mechanism controlling the movable object.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to theexact details of construction shown and described, for obviousmodifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

I claim:

In a display device, a support, a motor fixedly mounted thereon, anoscillated member actuated by the motor, a placard supported verticallyin front of the motor, a swinging member pivoted on the placard, saidmember having a part extending forwardly of the placard and carrying adisplay object to be animated, said member having a rear portion havingan open-ended loop fitting over the oscillated member to establish a 6 ldriving connection between said oscillated member and the swingingmember on which the loop is formed and to permit the placard to belifted away from the support as a unit with the swing- 5 ing member andthe object carried by it, without disturbing the motor or requiring achange in the position of the same upon the support.

FREDERICK A. QUICK.

10 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 15 Number Name Date Re. 21,579 Gregory et al Sept.24 1940 535,699 Heibecker Mar. 12, 1895 716,074 M-agie Dec. 16, 1902776,278 Ward Nov. 29, 1904 20 1,020,896 Fisher Mar. 19, 1912 1,082,785Whitcomb Dec. 30, 1913 1,723,910 Aramburn Aug. 6, 1929

